The Bosque Boys

I would think that high MPG diesels would be a better choice than hybrids, but only if they are bio-diesels. The high MPG would use less fuel, but it's still petroleum-based. So too bio fuel, but that cuts down the amount of petro-based fuel even more. Some day we'll have a diesel engine that burns plant-based oils, like vegetable oil. We could do it now, but with great expense to the consumer.

And, BTW, why aren't the big oil companies leading the way here? They stand to lose the most, so you'd think they would be placing their eggs in other baskets.

Joab & Okie;

Okine mentioned our discussion of potential hazards of Storage battery manufacture for Hybrids(this applies to rechargable electrics also. IMO disposal is more of an issue. What the environmental folk in industry call 'fate and transport' where in the environment does this stuff finally end up and how does it get there, what are effects/costs of where it goes and getting it there. I have read that the batteries of elecrtric/hybrid autos are supposed to be re-cycled but I have no knowledge of how well this will work. As Okie alluded to all bets are off on recycling are off in major collisions especially if fire is involved.

Hi MPG diesels Bio diesel or otherwise:
If you can cut consuption 40-60% (assuming manufacture and end of life-cycle control/recycling are environmentally and economically sustainable - go for it bio or petro.
Its a net gain!
From waht I have read so far etjhanol and bio-diesel are mostly polital and economic ploys of the 'grain belt'. If you invest 1 gallon of fuel (gasoline or diesel equivalent) in the production of bio fuel what do you get? One gallon of fuel m/l. (see http://www.sciencedaily.com...) This seems to be a 'make work' project. Such projects seem to have been of net benefit under FDR but other than propping up a sector of the economy they are not producers.
What is our capacity for bio-fuel production? I have not seen comparable figures for biodiese but 14% of current US corn productio yields about 1.7% of current US gasoline consuption. And, getting ethaol fuel preoduction to near brek-even production assumes use of high protien mash by-product as livestock feed - I do not know if agri-economists have looked into further market potential for this (something similar to ubiquitous 'high frucrtose corn syrup?) Getting biodiesel to break-even production has similar marketing of by-product assumptions as well as the questio of how many acres need to be brought into production to put a dent in current consumption.

We need to drive consuption way down for bio fuels to have any real impoact.

unfortunately a close encounte with a deer did in my just under 40 mpg commuter and economic / practic al concers lead me to a under 30 mpg replacement.

Here's a bit of addendum

When comparing MPG be sure to consider passenger miles not just vehicle miles.
Two average - Lg midwestern males may put that little Honda 2-seater over the recommended gross vehile weight.

Bio fuels production yield revisited - I said 1:1 m/l Some studies Give ethano up to 1.25 : 1, some give biodiesle up top 1.7:1, given rthat i still suggest they are not economically feasible.
Regarding how much curretn vehicle fuel demand could be met see:
http://www.sciencedaily.com...
"Dedicating all current U.S. corn and soybean production to biofuels
would meet only
12 percent of gasoline demand and
6 percent of diesel demand.
Meanwhile, global population growth and increasingly affluent societies will increase demand for corn and soybeans for food."

Turning food grade agricultural products into fuel just seems wrong to me....